Overview
- Hughes confirmed on Monday that it will close eight stores this Saturday, June 6, and that the move places roughly 60 roles at risk across shops and a delivery depot.
- The closures cover multiple Norfolk branches plus sites in Clacton and Wisbech and include a proposed shutdown of the Norwich Mason Road delivery depot.
- Individual consultations with affected staff have started and are expected to run one to two weeks, with employees able to apply for other vacancies inside the business.
- Company filings show trading weakened in the year to March 2025, with a reported pre-tax loss of about £2.15m after higher wage and delivery costs and stronger online competition squeezed margins.
- Hughes will keep ten regional stores and its Colchester branch open, plans to concentrate investment on online sales and remaining outlets, and expects turnover to fall short term as it targets a return to profit in 2026/27.